The DuSable Museum Announces “A Call for Artifacts: The Black Community Archive”

The DuSable Museum Announces “A Call for Artifacts: The Black Community Archive”
Individuals are invited to share meaningful family objects and the stories behind them to help preserve Black history for future generations


The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center (The DuSable Museum) announced the launch of “A Call for Artifacts: The Black Community Archive,” a documentation and digital archiving initiative designed to identify, document, and preserve histories held within Black families and communities. “A Call for Artifacts” invites individuals to share meaningful objects in their care and the stories connected to them to ensure their histories are preserved as part of a broader historical record.

“For generations, countless artifacts reflecting Black life, achievement, culture, and community have been preserved not in institutions, but in homes, attics, family collections, and personal archives,” said Danny Dunson, Director of Curatorial Affairs and Arts Education at The DuSable Museum. “These items, ranging from photographs and family heirlooms to church programs, letters, artwork, clothing, awards, and memorabilia, often carry stories that provide invaluable insight into the experiences of individuals, families, and communities.”

Through A Call for Artifacts, people are invited to submit information about personal and family objects they believe tell an important story. The selected participants will be invited to meet with staff from The DuSable Museum, who will professionally document the object and record an oral and/or visual history to document the object’s story and significance. Participants will maintain full ownership and custody of their objects while contributing to an archive of shared histories.

“Some of the most important histories in our communities have never been formally documented because they exist within family collections and personal archives,” said Perri Irmer, President and CEO of The DuSable Museum. “A Call for Artifacts recognizes community members as stewards of history and creates an opportunity to preserve stories that might otherwise be lost.”

The goal of this initiative is not simply to preserve objects, but to preserve the lives, experiences, and histories that live within those objects. The DuSable Museum is seeking a wide range of materials, including family photographs and albums, letters and correspondence, books and manuscripts, clothing and textiles, religious materials, educational records, business memorabilia, political and community organizing materials, music and entertainment artifacts, awards, certificates, and items documenting Black artistic, cultural, intellectual, and entrepreneurial life. The objects do not need to be rare or hold any specific monetary value to be considered.

Individuals interested in participating should complete an online submission form and provide basic information and preliminary photographs of their object. For more information or to submit an artifact for consideration, visit A Call for Artifacts.

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